Scottish nationalists get their wish

There are many Scots who want their nation to go its separate way from the rest of the UK (rUK) and now in the football qualifying for the Euro 2016, their wish has been realised, in being eliminated by drawing with Poland - the Poles equalising in the last minute - as another result went against them.  Euro 2016 is being staged in France (though whether UEFA boss Michel Platini will be watching it from a prison cell is another matter) and Northern Ireland will be there, following a memorable 3-1 win over Greece; Wales will be there once they beat uber-minnows Andorra; and England are already guaranteed to top their qualifying group.  Even Ireland (which James Joyce and others, sometimes derisively, sometimes patriocally, called 'West Britain') is in with a shot of automatic qualification after beating World Champions Germany 1-0 - this is the result that cast Scotland adrift in qualifying.  Meanwhile, Scots will only be able to curl up on their couches and cheer on whoever are England's opponents.  The Tartan Army's long exile from international tournament finals since France World cup '98 goes on (then again, they'd probably be eliminated before the knockout stage once more).  Cheer up Scotland; at least you'll be able to take out your frustration on Gibraltar - even if the part-timers of the latter take the lead as they did in the previous reverse fixture in Scotland, a hammering is surely in prospect.  Take what you can.